Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Block Design

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology

  • 16 Accesses

Synonyms

Kohs blocks

Description

The block design (BD) test is a subtest from the Wechsler corpus of intelligence tests that requires the examinee to use three-dimensional blocks to construct a model from a two-dimensional stimulus card. Blocks consist of sides that are all white, all red, or diagonally half red and white. Performance is timed. Although bonus points are awarded for speed, the score is either all or none, that is, a score is awarded only if the model is correctly produced within the prescribed time limit.

Historical Background

Hutt (1925) notes that the first documented use of block construction as a psychological test was by Francis N. Maxfield, working at the University of Pennsylvania Psychology Laboratory and Clinic, who devised a “color cube” test to study “imageability in children.” The procedures devised by Maxfield were also used by Clara Town (1921, cited in Hutt 1925). Both of these researchers were interested in studying analytic problem-solving strategies...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 899.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,099.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References and Readings

  • Akshoomoff-Haist, N. A., Delis, D. C., & Kiefner, M. G. (1989). Block constructions of chronic alcoholic and unilateral brain-damaged patients: A test of the right hemisphere vulnerability hypothesis of alcoholism. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 4, 275–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benton, A., & Tranel, A. (1993). Visuoperceptual, Visuospatial, and Visuoconstructional Disorders. In K. M. Heilman & E. Valenstein (Eds.), Clinical neuropsychology (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caplan, B., & Caffery, D. (1992). Fractionating block design: Development of a test of visuospatial analysis. Neuropsychology, 6, 385–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geschwind, N. (1979). Specializations in the human brain. Scientific American, 241, 180–199.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hutt, R. B. W. (1925). Standardization of a color cube test. The Psychological Clinic, 16, 77–97.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Joy, S., Fein, D., Kaplan, E., & Freedman, M. (2001). Quantifying qualitative features of block design performance among healthy older adults. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 16, 157–170.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, E. (1988). A process approach to neuropsychological assessment. In T. Boll & B. R. Bryant (Eds.), Clinical neuropsychology and brain function: Research. Measurement, and practice: Master lectures. Washington, DC: The American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, E., Palmer, E. P., Weinstein, C., & Baker, E. (1981). Block design: A brain-behavior based analysis. Paper presented at the annual European meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Bergen, Norway.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, E., Fein, D., Morris, R., & Delis, D. (1991). The WAIS-R as a neuropsychological instrument. San Antonio: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, A. S. (1990). Assessing adolescent and adult intelligence. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohs, S. C. (1920). The block design tests. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 3, 357–376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohs, S. C. (1923). Intelligence measurement. New York: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, J. H., Kaplan, E., Blusewicz, M. J., & Preston, K. A. (1991). Visual hierarchical analysis of block design configural errors. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 13, 455–465.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lezak, M., Howison, D. B., & Loring, D. W. (2004). Neuropsychological assessment (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schorr, D., Bower, G. H., & Kiernan, R. (1982). Stimulus variables in the block design task. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 50, 479–487.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Troyer, A. K., Cullum, C. M., Smernoff, E. N., & Kozora, E. (1994). Age effects on block design: Qualitative performance features and extended-time effects. Neuropsychology, 8, 95–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilde, M. C., Boake, C., & Sherer, M. (2000). Wechsler adult intelligence scale-revised block design broker configuration errors in non-penetrating traumatic brain injury. Applied Neuropsychology, 7, 208–214.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zip-Williams, E. M., Shear, P. K., Strongin, D., et al. (2000). Qualitative block design performance in epilepsy patients. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 15, 149–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery and Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA

    Brianne Magouirk Bettcher

  2. Rocky Mountain Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Aurora, CO, USA

    Brianne Magouirk Bettcher

  3. Departments of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Psychology, Rowan University, New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging, School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, USA

    David J. Libon

  4. Department of Psychology, Suffolk University, Boston, MA, USA

    Edith Kaplan

  5. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Fargo, ND, USA

    Rod Swenson

  6. Department of Neurology, The Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA, USA

    Dana L. Penney

Authors
  1. Brianne Magouirk Bettcher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David J. Libon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Edith Kaplan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rod Swenson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Dana L. Penney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brianne Magouirk Bettcher .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Jeffrey S. Kreutzer

  2. Kessler Foundation, Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ, USA

    John DeLuca

  3. Independent Practice, Wynnewood, PA, USA

    Bruce Caplan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Bettcher, B.M., Libon, D.J., Kaplan, E., Swenson, R., Penney, D.L. (2018). Block Design. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_1347

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation